The Soo Jr. Greyhounds moved one step closer to knocking off the defending NOJHL champion Rayside Balfour Sabrecats Monday night with a 7-2 victory at Memorial Gardens.
The Jr. Hounds now lead the best-of-seven semi-final two games to one.
The Jr. Hounds were boosted by a four goal first period that saw them score three times with the man advantage.
Barnabas Birkeland opened the scoring at 7:51 when he scored his fourth goal of the playoffs on the power play. Forty-three seconds later Luke Stellmach, who had a big night, scored on the power play to give the Jr. Hounds a two goal lead. Jeff Rainville picked up his second point of the period by scoring his eighth goal of the playoffs with the man advantage at 11:41 and Stellmach capped off the four-goal period with his second of the night at 16:08.
The second period saw the Sabrecats cut into the Soo lead when defenseman Jamie Dorion scored at 13:43 on a Rayside power play. The Sabrecats cut the Jr. Hound lead to two goals at 2:16 of the third period when Tyler MacKenzie scored his third goal of the playoffs. The Jr. Hounds then reeled off three straight to seal the win.
Rainville scored his second of the night at 6:58, Kelly Thomson scored at 7:16 and Stellmach capped off a stellar performance with his third of the night at 13:26.
Shane Bellini was kept busy as the Sabrecats fired 41 shots at the Jr. Hounds netminder. The series now shifts back to Chelmsford for Game 4 on Thursday night with Game 5 being played at Memorial Gardens on Saturday night.